Lateral Flow Test Update – Friday 17 December PM Update

The unprecedented demand for lateral flow test kits from people testing due to the Omicron variant, combined with precautionary testing before the Christmas period continues. By Wednesday evening this week, Alliance Healthcare had almost delivered the entire weeks anticipated volume.

Please see below an important update regarding the lateral flow distribution as part of the Pharmacy Collect service Alliance Healthcare is supporting on behalf of UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

This update contains information specific to pharmacy customers in (1) England, and (2) Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

1. England 

Message on behalf of UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) 

A UKHSA spokesperson said: 

“We have issued a record number of rapid test kits to people across the country. There has been unprecedented demand for testing this week and around 400,000 test kits have been delivered to people’s homes each day to help combat the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). 
 

“Over 11 million tests have been distributed this week to pharmacies across the UK, which has doubled from last week.
 

“Today, Friday 17 December, we will be unable to provide some pharmacies with their test allocation and we are working hard to meet demand.
 

“If you have tests at home, we encourage people to use these or order for home delivery on gov.uk"

Further information: 

• – Due to exceptionally high demand, LFD tests are temporarily unavailable at pharmacies.

• – This is due to unprecedented demand from people testing due to the Omicron variant, combined with precautionary testing before the Christmas period.

• – You can find where to get a lateral flow tests kit on gov.uk.

• – We would encourage people to use any tests they may already have at home before ordering online at gov.uk

Posters to support pharmacy communications with patients 

The UKHSA has created a poster for pharmacies to download, print and display on premises, which you can find here. Zero tolerance posters are also available from the CRC as well which you can access here. 

Order information

You are advised to place orders as normal via their usual ordering systems. Orders may take up to three days from order placement to delivery.

Please use pip code 8943995 to place your order which will automatically defer to which ever product is in stock at the time.

You should only order 1 carton per day. Any orders above this quantity will not be supplied. Please continue to order via your normal ordering systems and the myahportal.

2. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland 

Due to the latest Government announcements, we have seen high demand for lateral flow tests. Our Coatbridge, Swansea and Belfast Service Centres may be experiencing delays on being able to supply orders. We have adjusted our order levels accordingly to meet any increased demand and stocks should be replenished regularly to meet the demand.

Order information

You are advised to place orders as normal via their usual ordering systems. Orders may take up to three days from order placement to delivery.

You should only order 1 carton per day. Any orders above this quantity will not be supplied. Please continue to order via your normal ordering systems and the myahportal (myahportal.co.uk).

3. Thank you

Alliance Healthcare would like to take this opportunity to thank community pharmacy and the NHS for its incredible efforts in the fight against COVID-19; to date, Alliance Healthcare UK has delivered over 200 million lateral flow kits to pharmacy across the UK. 

Message from the Pharmacy Collect team at UKHSA: 

"We would like to thank all staff at Alliance for their ongoing efforts to help distribute test kits on our behalf. We recognise that at times it can be challenging dealing with difficult calls and queries and want to acknowledge the hard work that all staff, such as people working in the warehouse, call centre and drivers, are doing to help the efforts in the fight against Covid."